Let’s begin today’s devotion with a powerful video. Dr. Lockridge beautifully encapsulates what Scripture and experience has taught us about who Jesus is.
Do you know Him?
That’s My King ~ Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge
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“I wish I could describe Him to you!” Dr. Lockridge knew he couldn’t do it. He knew that no one on earth can truly comprehend or convey just who Jesus is or how much He loves us. But we can come to some small understanding of the protective capacity of that love. We can call upon that name above all names, put on the armor of God and walk beneath the mantle of His love.
We had a little houseguest overnight. And even though this is only his 73rd day outside of the womb, little Brayden Riley already knows all he needs to know. He already knows all I need to know, and brings me to a deeper understanding of the love of my heavenly Father.
As I rock Brayden to sleep in my arms, I can’t take my eyes of his peaceful little face. He already knows that I am not going to let go of him. I can tell by the look on his face that Brayden just knows - he already knows that I will not forsake him.
Do I know?
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5
As I lay Brayden down, and watch over him as he slumbers, he already seems to know that I will not sleep the same tonight. I will have my ear out for his slightest call of distress. Brayden knows - he already knows.
Do I know?
He who watches over you will not slumber… Psalm 121 :3
During this “clearance” season of my life, I have been checking out the online “Wanted” sections. My thought is that perhaps I own something that someone else would like to have. If I can find a buyer this way, I eliminate the need to create a “For Sale” post. Makes sense, right?
Here’s what I found.
Wanted:
- a reptile incubator
- a grasshopper canopy
- an old, rusted warehouse
- asbestos tiles
Darn! I took one look at the number of reptiles here in Louisiana and pitched my incubator. And I was completely unaware that grasshoppers had UV ray issues. I just sold my last rusty warehouse - all I have left are those nice shiny ones. And now I wish I had gotten a better look at my asbestos tile thieves, but with their protective goggles, masks and those large disposable coveralls they were wearing, well, it was hard to get a good description!
I stand at the edge of Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans. To my right is St. Louis Cathedral and to my left, a row of fortune tellers. I close my eyes as the bells of the old cathedral ring out over the carnival below them.
Writer and historian, Sally Reeves writes -
“Every quarter-hour, the thin peal of bells at St. Louis Cathedral calls saints and sinners, mostly the latter. They clang out a slightly off-key sound, as if they well know the offbeat rhythms of the neighborhood below them. The pulse of a circus atmosphere around the church pounds from hour to hour, as if to compete with the timbre of the sounds from the tower. The church stands sentinel, neither judging nor joining.”
I see in the sight before me a microcosm of this world - the spiritual battlefield in which we live and the present war being fought for your heart and mine.
“I would not, if I could, exchange places with the disciples, even on the Mount of Transfiguration. The Christ with whom they lived was a Christ limited by time and space. Was he in Galilee? Then he could not be found in Jerusalem. Was he in Jeruselem? Then men sought him in vain in Galilee. But today Christ is limited neither by time nor space, for he lives in the power of an endless life, and the Father has been pleased to reveal him in my heart. He was with them sometimes; he is with me always.”
Who is Jesus to you? What does He mean in your day to day life?
I have had varied relationships with Jesus on my life’s journey. He has loved me the same through them all.
My dear camera, the extension of my right hand, broke. As soon as I turned it on, the [Lens error, start again] message appeared on my screen. No matter how many times I restarted my camera, the lens cover would not open. I prayed that it would open, but it did not open.
When I was in school, nothing could wake me up and send me scribbling in my notebook faster than these words -
If you remember nothing else, remember this…
Write this down…
Commit this to memory…
The entire chapter comes down to this one crucial fact…
Today, I still want my information fast and delivered in a nutshell. I Google, I Yahoo - I want answers.
People were always asking Jesus questions. The disciples desired to learn more about God and His kingdom. The Pharisees and Sadducees devised questions to trap Jesus, to trip Him up and give them fuel for their hatred fires.
Jesus cannot be trapped, for Jesus is Truth. Jesus cannot flame hatred, for Jesus is Love.
It inspires me to witness the abandon children possess in this world. I wonder at the freedom their sense of well-being allows. One of the best gifts of parenthood is looking at the world through the eyes of your child - a fresh and fearless perspective.
Before our minds were developed enough to understand the theology of a benevolent Creator, we had an unabashed trust that the world loved us. Little by little, through experience and instruction, we journeyed to fear. But God did not ordain this trek.
Fear is the fast food of the enemy, in plentiful supply in this world and free for the taking. I’ve been in that line before, have you?
This message is to you from my husband, Matt Graver. The team he refers to are the members of the Rivers of Kush Trading Company. To learn more, please visit our website at:
The people of Sudan and our team need your prayers.
As I write this there is a controversy in the Church in Sudan that threatens to harm the development work we are planning. The evil one has planted seeds in Sudan to sabotage and divide Christ’s Church.
We ask that you pray for the Church in Sudan, that true repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation will take place, and that all of God’s children will work together according to His plan.
I also ask that you pray for our mission to Sudan. One of our projects involves helping the people of Sudan maximize benefits realized from their mineral resources. Please pray for our team. Ask God to give us the wisdom to chart the right course, so that our work will bring glory to God.
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Matthew 13:23
When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you? Then the King will say, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was Me-you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:37-40 The Message
We had a little houseguest overnight. And even though this is only his 73rd day outside of the womb, little Brayden Riley already knows all he needs to know. He already knows all I need to know, and brings me to a deeper understanding of the love of my heavenly Father.
Zephaniah 3:10
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 
When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you? Then the King will say, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was Me-you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:37-40 The Message